By
LACW Simone Liebelt
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RAAF
Base Williamtown’s firefighters display the CO’s
commendation they received for their exemplary performance
in battling the bushfire that threatened the base.
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Photo
by LAC Steve Duncan
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A
Williamtown fire section truck in the thick of action.
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Photo
by LAC Clint Siggins
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An
F/A-18 Hornet taxies through a shroud of smoke from the
fire.
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Photo
by LAC Clint Siggins
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TWENTY-EIGHT
Air Force firefighters, seven security police and a Military Working
Dog handler have received Commanding Officer’s commendations
for their efforts during a bushfire that threatened RAAF Base
Williamtown.
Supported by the Port Stephens Rural Fire Service, the 28 personnel
from the base fire section worked over a 24-hour period to combat
a large bushfire – fuelled by high winds and low humidity
– in bushland adjacent the base on October 29-30.
The fire threatened the airfield navigational aids and engine
run-up facility and caused the urgent evacuation of 19 military
working dogs after flames broke through the perimeter on the western
side of the base.
MWD handler Sergeant Lindsay Brill said after calling the firefighters
for help, it was only a matter of minutes before the bushfire
reached the MWD section, causing a rush among personnel to get
the dogs to safety.
“We couldn’t see any flames because of the smoke, you
could just feel the heat and that’s how we knew it was getting
close. All we were concerned with was getting the dogs out,”
SGT Brill said.
“Then when the fire got here, everything was red, there was
ash on the ground and hot embers flying through the kennels; it
felt like it went straight over the top of us.”
After moving the dogs to a safe area, MWD personnel fought the
flames with hoses before firefighters arrived to take control
of the blaze.
Three personnel were treated for smoke inhalation and the dogs
were later returned to their kennels.
The bushfire also came close to Duck Hole Hill, a restricted area
on the base where maintenance personnel from No. 3 Control and
Reporting Unit and the TPS-43 radar are located.
Seven personnel were evacuated, trucks were relocated and the
radar was shut down after flames came within 10m of the hill.
Senior Williamtown firefighter Flight Sergeant Andrew Reid said
his crew worked around the clock with the local fire service to
contain spot fires and conduct back-burning well into the next
day.
FSGT Reid said flying operations were able to continue because
of the efforts of fire crews to protect the airfield navigational
aids.
He described the support received from around the base as tremendous,
including assistance from catering, operations, mechanical maintenance,
security police and many volunteers.
“Personnel worked extremely well under the conditions, and
I have no doubt that base facilities were saved as a result of
their efforts,” he said.
“For some of my crew, this was the first time they attended
a bushfire of this magnitude, so they were elated to be able to
get out there and do their job in an emergency capacity. It was
rewarding for the whole crew.”
